Early indicators of learning problems in high-risk children.
The study examined the association between transient neurologic abnormalities and later learning problems in children who experienced perinatal difficulties. Follow-up assessments at school age were made of children from a Perinatal Follow-up Program who had birth weights less than 1500 g, or required assisted ventilation, or experienced seizures in the neonatal period. Eighteen children who had shown abnormalities on Amiel-Tison Neurologic Exam between 4 and 18 months of age, but assessed as developing normally on neuromotor and cognitive assessments by 24-48 months, were identified as cases. These cases were compared with 29 controls who had been assessed as normally developing throughout. No significant group differences were found on school-age cognitive, language, visual-motor, school performance, or behavior measures. Significant correlations between perinatal and demographic variables and school-age measures were found. A sizable number of these high-risk children were shown to have signs of school-related problems.
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Department of Educational Psychology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Sauve
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Creighton
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D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D004421:Dystonia / Q000150:complications; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications